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(jRL"® TACTICS; ' 



IL System of Military Drill] Teaching the 
Formation of the Initials Df the Dame 
and Motto of the Drier, and 



E. K. WILCOX POST, NO. 16, 

Department of Massachusetts. 
Springfield, Mass. 

1884. 











uaivi 

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Entere d according to Act of Congress, in the year 
1884, by F. B. CHAMBERLAIN. 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 


C. R. KAPLINGER, PRINTER, 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 






T hese Tactics have been adopted and 
are in use by Post 16, Department of 
Massachusetts, Grand Army of the Repub¬ 
lic, and the perfection attained by that 
Post in the movements, has demonstrated 
the fact, that very little drill is necessary 
to perfect Veteran Soldiers in what are 
termed fancy movements. 

As Upton’s Tactics are the foundation 
for these, they are referred to for further 
instruction, in Company or Battalion move¬ 
ments. 

Originality is claimed only for the 
fancy movements, and that this work may 
result in a revival of Military spirit and an 
increased interest in the appearance of 
Grand Army Posts in public, is the highest 
aim of 


The Author. 




5 



P ornr) Con} pa py. 


C ompany is formed in single rank, tallest 
on the right, face to front, and divided 
into three Platoons of sixteen men in each 
and counted from right to left in fours. 

In the following diagrams each Man 
is represented by a number. 

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

Diagram No. 1. To Form Company. 



6 


T^qfjt) (Soluirir) 


0ur>s. 


A t the command “Fours right” “March.” 

The company will wheel to the right in 
sections of four, and halt at the command, 
“Halt.” 

to CO 4^ 

»-< Co 

o O'* to 

12 II 109 8765 4321 

Diagram No. 2. To Form Column of Fours. 


16 15 14 13 



7 


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.* of Re 


90 UPS, 


A t the command “Fours left” “March.” 

The company will wheel to the left by 
fours, and halt in line at the command 
“Halt.” The command will then be given. 
“Right Dress.” “Front.” 


16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8765 4 3 2 1 


o 

VO 


Ck) 

On to 

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Diagram Nor 3. To Come to Company front from 
column! of Fours. 



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A t the command “Form sections left 
oblique” “March.” The odd numbered 
fours will march steady forward. The 
even numbered fours will oblique to the 
left, until uncovered, and forward guiding 
right on the preceding fours. 

87654321 
8765 
16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 
16 15 14 13 


Diagram No. 4. To Form Sections. 



9 


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Porir) Col unprj 0^ B 
j>orr) i 3 ocfioi)s or) FF)apct). 


A t the command “Right by. Fours,” 
“March.” The odd numbered fours 
will march steady forward. The even num¬ 
bered fours will mark time until uncovered 
and oblique to the right, to their position 
in column of fours. 



A t the command “Platoons left front 
into line,” “March.” The first four 
will keep their position, and the others 
will take their respective positions on the 
left of the first four, by left oblique, at 
double time. Guide right. 

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 


8765 


12 11 109 


16 15 14 13 

Diagram No. 5. To Form Platoons from column 
of fours on March. 




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A t the command given by Post Com¬ 
mander “Prepare to form Initials.” 
The Company Commander will give the 
command, “Platoons left front into line, 
double time,” “March.” As soon as the 
Platoons are formed they will be under the 
command'of their respective chiefs. Post 
Commander then orders, “Form Initials.” 
The command is then given by Platoon 
commanders as follows; 

“First Platoon form G,” “March.” 
“Second Platoon form A,” “March.” 
“Third Platoon form R,” “March.” 
The letters will then be formed as given 
in the following explanations and diagrams 




12 



Of. 


N umbers 8 9 and 10 move eight 
paces to the front taking double dis¬ 
tance to the right and left of number 9, num¬ 
ber 7 takes position one pace to the right 
and rear of number 8 and will be cov¬ 
ered in file by the First Sergent one pace 
in the rear. Number 11 moves seven paces 
to the front taking position one pace to the 
left and rear of number 10, and will be fol¬ 
lowed in file by numbers 12 13 14 15 and 16 
who move right flank, by file left, keeping 
one pace apart, number 4 5 and 6 oblique 
to the left and take position one pace to 
rear of 16, and covering the men at the top 
of the letter, number 3 obliques to the left 
and takes position one pace to the right, 
and in advance of number 4, and covering 
the First Sergeant, number 2 takes posi¬ 
tion one pace in advance of and to the left 




13 


of number 3, number 1 takes position one 
pace to the right of number 2. 

Each man being careful to keep the 
required distance to form the letter G. 


10 9 8 

11 7 

12 * 

1 13 

★ 14 

15 2 1 

16 3 

6 5 4 

16 15 14 13 12 11 10987654321 


Diagram No. 6. To Form the Letter G. 


!4 



A t the command “form A,” “March.” Num¬ 
bers 8 9 and io will keep steady for¬ 
ward, number 7 will advance until he has 
gained a point seven paces to the front and 
center of the Platoon. The men on the 
right of number 7 will follow him to the 
front, keeping one pace to the rear of and 
guiding their left shoulder on the right shoul¬ 
der of the preceeding man, as shown in 
Diagram number 7. Number 11 will move 
to the front taking position to the left of 
number 7 and opposite number 6 and will be 
followed in order by numbers 12 13 14 15 
and 16 each keeping one pace in the rear and 
guiding their right shoulder on a line with 
the left of preceeding man, numbers 8 9 and 
10 will move forward and guide on number 
3 and 14 forming the cross of the letter A. 

7 

11 6 


12 5 

2 13 4 

* 14 10 9 8 3 

15 2 

16 1 

16 15 14 13 12 11 1098765432 1 
Diagram Number 7. To Form the Letter A. 


15 


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N umber io moves eight paces to the front, 
followed by numbers n 12 13 14 15 and 
16 who will move right flank by file left, each 
keeping one pace in the rear of their file 
leader, numbers 9 and 8 will move forward 
and guide left on number 13, numbers 7 6 
and 5 move to the front by left oblique and 
take position at the top of the letter guid¬ 
ing on^number 10, number 4 takes position 
one pace to the right and rear of number 
5 and opposite number 11, number 3 takes 
position one pace directly in the rear of 
number 4, number 2 takes position directly 
in the rear of number 3 and opposite num¬ 
ber 14, number 1 in the the rear of 2 
and opposite 15 followed by the Second 
Sergeant who will be opposite number 16. 

10 7 6 5 


11 4 

12 3 

3 13 9 8 

★ 14 2 

15 1 


16 15 14 13 12 11 1098 765432 1 
Diagram No. 8. To Form the Letter R. 



16 



11 Letters and Emblems are reduced as 



JA follows: at the command given 
by Post Commander, “Reduce Initials,” 
“Mottos” or “Emblems,” as the case may 
be. The Company Commander orders 
“Platoons into line,” “March,” which is re¬ 
peated by the Chiefs of Platoon to their 
respective commands. The movements 
will be made by the men who are directly 
in front of their original position in the 
Platoon, marking time until they obtain 
platoon distance. The others will gain their 
position by obliqueing to the right or left, 
as the case may be and shortening step until 
they are in line when the command will be 
given “Forward Guide left,” “March.” 





17 









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T he command is given by Post Com¬ 
mander “Form Motto.” Platoon Com¬ 
manders then order: 

“First Platoon form F,” “March.” 
“Second Platoon form C,” “March.” 
“Third Platoon form L,” “March.” 

The letters will then be formed as given 
in the following explanations and diagrams. 




18 



N umber 9 will move eight paces to the 
front and center, followed in order by 
numbers 10 11 12 13 14 15 and 16, who 
will make a right flank by file left, to a 
position one pace directly in the rear of the 
preceeding man, numbers 8 7 and 6 will 
move forward five paces and guide on 
number 12, numbers 5432 and 1 will 
move to the front, oblique to the left and 
take position at the top of the letter guiding 
on number 9, the First Sergeant will place 
himself one pace in the rear of number 1. 

9 5 4 3 2 1 
10 * 

11 

1 12 8 7 6 

* 13 

H 

15 

16 

1615 14 13 12 11 109876543 2 1 
Diagram No. 9. To Form the Letter F. 


19 


* Ropit) RgII&p R. * 

N umbers 8 9 and 10 will move eight 
paces to the front separating to double 
distance, number 11 moves seven paces 
to the front, taking position one pace to the 
left and rear of number 10, and will be 
followed by numbers 12 13 14 15 and 16, 
who will make a right flank by file left, and 
form in single file one pace apart, number 
7 takes position one pace to the right and 
rear of number 8 and opposite number 11, 
number 6 one pace directly in the rear of 
number 7, numbers 3 4 and 5 oblique to 
the left and takes position one pace in the 
rear of number 16 and covering the men at 
the top of the letter. Number 1 and 2 
place themselves in single file on a line 
with number 6 and opposite 15 and 16. 

10 9 8 

11 7 

12 6 

2 13 

it 14 

15 1 

16 2 

5 4 3 


16 15 1413 12 11 1098 76543 2 1 


Diagram Number 10. To Form the Letter C. 



20 



Is&ffdr Ll * 


N umber 8 will advance nine paces to the 
front of the line, obliqueing one file to 
the left, number 9 will move directly to the 
front taking position one pace in the rear 
of number 8 and will be followed by num¬ 
bers 10 11 12 13 14 15 and 16, each 

keeping one pace directly in the rear of 
their leader, numbers 765432 and 1 
will oblique to the left and guide on number 
16. The Second Sergeant placing himself 
in front of number 1. 

8 


9 


16 15 


10 

11 

3 12 

* 13 

H 

15 

16 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

14 13 12 11 1098 7 6 5 43 2 1 


Diagram Number n. To Form the Letter L. 



21 




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T he command is given by the Post Com¬ 
mander “Form Emblems.” the order 
is then given by Chiefs of Platoons to their 
respective commands: 

“First Platoon form Square,” “March.” 
“Second Platoon form Cross,” “March.” 
“Third Platoon form Triangle,” “March.,, 
The Emblems will be formed as given in 
the following explanations and diagrams. 




22 




0fiT) 0^uare, 


N umbers 789 and 10 move forward 
obliqueing to the right and left until 
they are one pace apart, numbers 654 
and 3 make a left flank by file, right move¬ 
ment to the rear of number 7 in single file, 
oqp pace apart, numbers 11 12 13 and 14 
move right flank by file left, to the rear of 
number 10 in single file one pace apart 
numbers 1 2 15 and 16 oblique toward the 
center and form the rear of the Square. 


10 9 8 7 

11 6 

12 5 

13 4 

H 3 

16 15 2 1 


16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

Diagram No. 12. To Form Square. 



N umber 8 will move eight paces to the 
front and center of the line, followed by 
numbers 7 6 and 5 who will take position 
in the rear of number 8, one pace apart and 
in single file, number 9 will take position 
one pace in the rear of number 5 followed by 
numbers 10 11 and 12, who will form one 
pace apart in single file, numbers 432 and 
t will move to the front by left, oblique and 
guide on the space between numbers 5 and 
9, numbers 13 14 15 and 16 will move to 
the front by right, oblique and guide on the 
space between numbers 5 and 9, forming 
the Cross. 

8 

7 

6 

5 

16 15 14 13 43 2 1 

9 
10 
11 
12 

16 15 1413 12 11 10987654321 
Diagram No. 13. To Form Cross. 



24 





N umber 9 moves eight paces to the front 
and will be followed by numbers 876 
and 5, each keeping one pace in the rear 
and guiding their left shoulder on the right 
shoulder of the preceeding man, number 10 
takes position one pace to the rear of num¬ 
ber 9 and will be followed by numbers 11 
12 and 13 each keeping one pace in the 
rear and guiding their right shoulder on 
the left shoulder of the man in advance, 
numbers 1 2 3 and 4 will oblique to the 
left and form across the rear, keeping one 
pace apart, number 1 being one pace in the 
rear and guiding his left shoulder on the 
right shoulder of number 5, numbers 14 15 
and 16 will oblique to the right and guide on 
number 4 keeping one pace apart, number 
16 being one pace in the rear, and guiding 



25 


his right shoulder on the left shoulder 
of number 13. 

Each man being particular to keep the 
required distance to form a perfect triangle. 

9 

10 8 


11 7 

12 6 


13 5 

16 15 14 4 3 2 1 


16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 i 
Diagram No. 15. To Form Triangle. 


Note —To enlarge the Triangle, place 
number 4 to the right and rear of number 
5, and number 14 to the left and rear of 
number 13, leaving numbers 123 15 and 
16 across the rear. 


26 


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T he Post Commander will give the order 
“Form Corps.” The Chiefs of Platoons 
will give the order to their respective com¬ 
mands: 

“First Platoon form Diamond,” “March.” 
“Second Platoon form Anchor,” “March.” 
“Third Platoon form Crescent,” “March.” 
The Corps will be formed as' follows. 




27 


^p0 R 0 PIT) iQi^rrjarjd.. 


T he formation will be made on number 9 
who remains on the line, number 4 will 
move nine paces to the front and center, 
followed by numbers 3 2 and 1 who will 
keep one pace apart, guiding their left 
shoulders in line with the right of the man 
in front, number 5 will take position one 
pace to the rear and to the right of number 
1, keeping his left shoulder in line with the 
right of the man in front and will be followed 
by numbers 6 7 and 8, each keeping to the 
left, and one pace to the rear of the man in 
front guiding their right shoulders on his 
left. Number 14 will take position to the left 
and one pace to the rear of number 4, and 
will be followed by numbers 15 16 and 13, 
each keeping to the left and one pace to 
the rear and guiding their right shoulders 



28 


on the left of the man in front, number 13 
will be followed by numbers 12 11 and 10 
who will each keep to the right, and one 
pace to the rear and guide their left 
shoulder on the right of the man in front, 
thus forming a Diamond. 


• 4 

H 3 

15 2 

16 1 

5 

12 6 

11 7 

10 * 8 


9 

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

Diagram Number 16. To Form Diamond. 


29 


^p© R©rrr) (J^lr)©l~)©p, 


N umber 9 will advance six paces to the 
front ol the line, followed by numbers 
10 11 8 7 and 6, numbers 2 and 1 will 
move to front by left oblique and guide on 
number 9, numbers 15 and 16 will move to 
the front by right oblique and guide on 
number 9, number 5 will take position one 
pace to the right and in advance of number 
6, number 4 one pace to the right and in 
advance of number 5, number 3 one pace 
to the right and in advance of number 4, 
number 12 will take position one pace to 
the left and in advance of number 6, number 
13 one pace to the left and in advance of 
number 12 and number 14 one pace to the 
left and in advance of number 13, thus 
forming an Anchor. 

16 15 9 2 1 


10 


11 


14 


8 

7 

12 6 



16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 
Diagram No. 17. To Form Anchor. 


2 


[ 


30 


^p0 R0P1r) (Ebcsctz-rT 


N umbers 8 and 9 will remain on the line, 
numbers 7 and 10 will move slightly to 
the front, number 6 will advance one pace, 
number 5 two paces, number 4 three paces, 
number 3 four paces, number 2 five paces, 
and number 1 six paces to the front of the 
line, each keeping one pace in advance of 
and to the right of the man on their left. 
Number 11 will advance one pace, number 
12 two paces, number 13 three paces, num¬ 
ber 14 four paces, number 15 five paces, 
and number 16 six paces to the front of 
the line, each keeping one pace in advance 
of and to the left of the man on their right, 
forming a Crescent. The men in the rear 
of numbers 1 and 16 guiding their shoulders 
in line with opposite shoulders of the men 
in advance. 


4 


e 


*6 


*4 


1-3 


12 U 10 9 8 ^ 



16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 

Diagram No. 18. To Form Crescent. 



31 


Note —The 'commands “Form Initials,” 
“Form Motto,” etc., are preparatory and 
the commander should wait for the Chiefs 
of Platoon to give the order “Form G,” 
“Form A,” “Form R,” etc., when he should 
give the order “March,” which should be 
promptly repeated by Platoon Commanders, 
and the movements executed by all the 
Platoons at the same time. 

Many other Corps Badges may be formed 
in the same manner as those for which 
diagrams are given. 

Remembering always to make your for¬ 
mations from the center of the Platoon or 
Company, in order that the figures may be 
easily reduced by the center files marking 
time, and those on the right and left 
regaining their positions by short steps and 
oblique. 

Remember that practice makes perfect 
and constant drill will make perfect move¬ 
ments. 










































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